Dispensing device



March 22, 1966 w. l. NISSEN DISPENSING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 24, 1963 March 22, 1966 w. n. NISSEN 3,241,722

DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Dec. 24, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 22, 1966 w. a. NISSEN DISPENSING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 24, 1963 United States Patent 3,241,722 DISPENSING DEVICE Warren 1. \issen, ll Winsor Lane, Topsfield, Mass. Filed Dec. 24, 1963, Ser. No. 333,089 42 Claims. (Cl. 222-136) This application is a continuation-in-part of my copending application Serial No. 257,655, filed February 11, 1963, entitled, Dispensing Device, now abandoned.

This invention relates to dispensing devices and more particularly to an improved dispensing device and valve structure for controlling the coordinated mixing and dispensing of materials under pressure from two separate containers to provide a combined product.

A variety of materials have been packaged in containers under pressure for subsequent dispensing through a manually controlled valve outlet. In some cases it is desirable that the product to be dispensed be formed or produced by interaction, at the time of dispensing, of two different ingredients which are stored separately from each other. Among such products are artificial smoke, foods, paints, insecticides, cosmetic compositions, therapeutic agents, and material for metallizing glass. It is essential in the commercialization of such products that the ingredients be held in separate containers so that they will maintain their effective properties for an indefinite period of time during storage, and also that the dispensing device be capable of mixing the components or ingredients in the proper proportion and in only those amounts that are required for use at one time. The valve structure of such a device should, at the option of the user of the device, release the two ingredients in proper roportion from their containers and in a manner enabling the mixing of the two ingredients into the desired relationship. In some cases it is essential that a time delay be incorporated in the device so that a chemical reaction will be completed between the two ingredients before they are discharged from the device. Such requirements demand precise operating characteristics of the valve structure.

A further problem arises where it is necessary to insure that one ingredient cannot be discharged by itself where such an ingredient may have harmful effects in its unreactcd state. A related problem is to insure that there is no residue of such an ingredient left within the container after completion of its use which might be inadvertently discharged in an objectionable manner.

Still another consideration involved in the design of such devices arises when an ingredient is not compatible with propellant materials. In such cases it is necessary to isolate the propellant material from that ingredient while still enabling the ingredient to be discharged under the influence of the propellant. Difficulties arise in connection with the devising of an arrangement which will enable the propellant to be loaded into the dispensing device without contaminating such an ingredient already in the device. 7 Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved dispensing device in which two ingredients may be kept separate until immediately prior to use and which releases the ingredients in a controlled action for mixing and discharge.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved dispensing control apparatus employing a single source of pressure for selectively dispensing two ingredients in coordinated action.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved coordinated valve structure having two valve elements for controlling the discharge of a mixture of two ingredients in one mode of operation and allowing 3,241,722 Patented Mar. 22, 1966 ICE the introduction of an ingredient in a second mode of operation.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved device particularly adapted for dispensing a mixture of ingredients for use as a cosmetic agent.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved container for use in a dispensing device of the pressurized type which insures more complete discharge of material from that container.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved valve structure for use with a pressurized type of dispensing device that has a plurality of containers which permit selective communication with a single one of those containers alone or with the plurality of con tainers simultaneously for discharge of a mixture of the ingredients in the containers for example.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved valveassembly for use in a pressurized dispensing device having two containers which enables one container to be charged with a propellant material through a common passageway without introducing propellant material into the other container.

In accordance with principles of the invention, there is provided a dispensing device of the pressurized type which employs a plurality of separate ingredient containers disposed in predetermined relation to one another. The dispensing device has a first or outlet orifice common to both containers through which a mixture of the ingredients in two containers may flow and a second orifice associated with one of the containers. A common valve unit controls the fiow through both orifices and has two modes of operation, a first mode which permits communication with only one of the containers and a second mode which permits communication with both of the containers for flow of two ingredients through the common outlet orifice in a mixing operation. In preferred embodiments the two orifices are axially aligned and the valve unit includes two valve elements which cooperate with the respective orifices and a common biasing element disposed to urge the two valve elements away from one another and into sealing relation relative to their respective orifices to prevent flow of material through those orifices. The valve unit has an axial mode of operation in which the applied force is directly opposed to the force of the comomn biasing element to open the common outlet orifice only, and a lateral mode in which the applied force moves both valve elements in coordinated movement to open both orifices and permit an outward flow of material in a mixing operation. The common biasing element is arranged to act on the valve unit to restore the valve elements to their sealing position whenever the applied force is removed after actuationin either mode.

These valve elements in preferred embodiments are disposed within a mixing chamber to which the ingredient from the second container is in direct communication through a passageway proportioned in size to the size of the valved passageway between the mixing chamber and the first container. Control of the valve positions and the sequence of valve operation is provided where neces sary or desirable due to the nature of the ingredients being mixed and dispensed.

Also in preferred embodiments a nozzle structure is employed which cooperates with the valve actuator element to provide a common passageway in which any necessary reaction between the ingredients of the mixture is completed. This nozzle is manipulated to operate the valve unit in the second mode. The nozzle and actuator element are constructed so that in normal use by the consumer the valve assembly is operated only in the second mode while the first mode is employed in charging the pressurized device with propellant material.

In preferred embodiments of the invention, the pressurized device includes two containers, a rigid outer container and a second container mounted within the outer container. At least a first portion of the wall of the inner container is flexible and of identical configuration to a second wall portion so that the flexible portion may be moved in response to force applied externally of the inner container into mating contact with the second wall portion. The pressure of a propellant, within the outer container only, acts on the material in the outer container and against the flexible wall portion of the inner container tending to drive the material from the containers through the common outlet passageway. As the propellant pressure drives the material out of the inner container, the inner surfaces of the two wall portions are gradually urged into substantially complete contact with one another, thus effecting discharge of all the material in the inner container. Channels formed on the inner surface of the inner container adjacent the container orifice provide material fiow passageways which are not blocked even when the surfaces of the two wall portions are otherwise in mating relation so that substantially complete discharge of the ingredient stored in the inner container is assured.

In one particular embodiment of the invention, the flow passageways between the containers and the mixing chamber, and the valve operating characteristics and the size of the inner container are proportioned so that complete discharge of material in that container occurs before complete discharge of material in the outer container and to insure that none of the material in the inner container can be expelled in overproportioned relation to the material in the outer container.

The invention provides a novel and improved dispensing device of the pressurized type which stores in separate compartments two reactive ingredients and enables the charging of the outer container with a propellant without any of the propellant entering the inner container and the subsequent discharge under propellant pressure of two ingredients in a mixing operation, which mixing operation occurs as the ingredients are discharged. The apparatus is easy to use and reliable in operation.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be seen as the following description of preferred embodiments progresses, in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a dispensing device constructed in accordance with principles of the inventron:

FIG. 2 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale of the valve assembly and containers of the dispensing device taken along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 showing the configuration of a portion of the inner container and its relation to the outer container;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIG. 2 showing details of the inner surface of the inner container adjacent the outlet orifice:

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken through the valve assembly along the line 55 of FIG. 2 showing the relation of the spring valve biasing means to its housing;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the nozzle and valve operator member of the dispensing device taken along the.

line 6-6 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a portion of the dispensing device showing the valve assembly in a mode of operation with a propellant being introduced into the outer container;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a portion of the dispensing device showing the valve assembly in dispensing operation;

FIGS. 9a and 9b are sectional views of a portion of the dispensing device of the type shown in FIG. 1 illustrating modified forms of valving elements;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view of a second form of valve assembly constructed in accordance with principles of the invention;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the valve assembly of FIG. 10 showing the positions of valve elements in one mode of operation;

FIGS. 12-14 are sectional views of other forms of valve assemblies which may be employed in dispensing devices constructed in accordance with principles of the invention;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of one unit of the valve assembly employed in the embodiment shown in FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is an elevational view, in partial section, of another form of dispensing device constructcd in accordance with principles of the invention;

FIG. 17 is a sectional view of still another form of dispensing device employing modified valve and inner container structures;

FIG. 18 is a sectional view taken along the line 18-18 of FIG. 17 showing details of the valve operator;

FIG. 19 is a sectional view taken along the line 19-19 of FIG. 17 showing details of the lower valve element and inner container;

FIG..20 is a sectional view taken along the lines 20-20 of FIG. 17 showing details of the construction of the inner container; and

FIG. 21 is a sectional view to an enlarged scale taken along the line 21-21 of FIG. 20 of a portion of the wall of the inner container.

The aerosol device shown in FIG. 1 includes a rigid cylindrical body 10 having a domed bottom wall 11. a top portion 12 secured to the cylindrical body 10 and a discharge nozzle 14 upstanding therefrom. A cap 16 (shown in dotted lines) may be secured in a recess formed in the crimped top portion for protecting the nozzle against accidental operation.

Further details of the structure securing the metal top 12 to the body 10 are shown in FIG. 2. The crimped metal top 12 is formed with an annular bulge 18 and an annular recessed surface 20 below and outwardly of the bulge in which the base of the cap 16 may be received. As seen in FIG. 2, in final assembly, the outer edge of the top 12 is spun over the top edge of body 10 in crimped manner to form a seal therewith and provide a rigid sealed container capable of storing a material to be dispensed together with a suitable propellant under pressure.

Secured to the metal top 12 is a valve assembly and support that carries an inner container 22 for mounting in predetermined spaced relation within the cylindrical outer container. The inner container includes a relatively rigid upper member 24 of hemispherical configuration having adjacent its lower edge 25 an annular outwardly extending flange portion 26 which is located concentrically of and spaced a short distance from the cylindrical wall of the outer container. As best indicated in FIG. 3, the flange 26 includes a plurality of spaced tabs 28 which serve to locate the inner container 22 relative to the outer container 10 during assembly. Sccured to the bottom surface of the flange 26 and the short depending portion of the upper member 24 below the flange is a thin flexible member 30 which completes the wall of the inner container to form a totally enclosed space having a volume varying from a sphere at maximum to a collapsed hemisphere at minimum. The flexible member 30 which may be made of a material such as polyethylene, acetate, polypropylene or metal foil is impervious to the materials stored in the two containers although ordinarily it does not have to be entirely impervious to the propellant. The flexibility of member 30 insures equalization of pressures within the inner and outer containers.

As indicated in FIGS. 2 and 4, the inner surface of the inner rigid member 24 adjacent the outlet orifice 32 is formed with sets of parallel tapered ribs 34 which define channels 36 extending radially from the outlet orifice 32. The lower surfaces of the ribs 34 (as shown in FIG. 2) are substantially horizontal such that the ribs taper in height and merge smoothly with the inner surface 38 of the rigid portion of the spherical inner container.

This inner container is supported with its flange 26 in spaced relation to the cylindrical wall of the outer container by means of the support structure which includes an upstanding cylindrical hollow stub 40 which is integral with and projects upwardly from the rigid upper member 24 of the inner container. The integrally formed member (rigid portion 24 of the inner container and stub 40) is molded of a plastic material, such as high density polyethylene. The cylindrical stub 40 includes a lower wall portion through which an unvalved lateral passageway 42 extends and an upper wall portion 44 of increased diameter about which can top 12 is formed. Its hollow interior communicates, at its lower end through orifice 32, with the interior of the inner container 22. In the lower interior wall of the support structure and concentric with passageway 32 is a valve seat structure 46 which has a seating surface 48 of conical configuration.

Seated on the top surface of the cylindrical stub 40 is the upstanding discharge nozzle 14 which is molded of a resilient, flexible material, such as low density polyethylene, and includes a longitudinally extending slightly tapered exit passageway 52 and an inwardly extending flange 54 of helical configuration having an inner edge surface 55. The base of the discharge nozzle 14 includes an outwardly extending annular base flange 56, an annular valve seat 58 formed in its lower surface and an upstanding bead 60 formed at the outer edge of its upper surface. The lower surface of flange 56 outside the valve seat 58 is deformed on the sharp annular edge 62 protruding upwardly from the upper surface of the cylindrical stub 40.

Disposed in the small chamber formed by the stub 40 is a valving member 70 of relatively rigid material, such as polyacetal (Delrin), which includes an upstanding cylindrical stud portion 72 that extends up into the discharge nozzle passageway 52 with its outer cylindrical surface 73 contacting the inner edges 55 of the helical flange 54. Member 70 has an intermediate integral outwardly extending annular flange 74 which carries on its upper surface an annular head or ridge 76 that is adapted to bear against and form continuous annular contact with the valve seat 58 in the under surface of the discharge nozzle flange 56 to thereby close the path of communication between the stub chamber (and the outer container) and the helical discharge passageway.

The lower end of valving member 70 is formed to define a coupling element in the form of a cylindrical chamber 78 which includes a plurality of spaced protrusions 80 at the upper end thereof as shown in FIG. 5. Secured by these protrusions 80 within this chamber is a compression type helical valve spring 82, the upper end of which acts to thrust the entire valving member 70 upwardly and urges the valve bead 76 into seating and sealing engagement with the upper valve seat 58 to close off the main discharge passageway. The lower end of the valve spring 82 abuts against a valve ball 84 and urges that ball down onto the conical valve seat 48 to close off the passageway 32 that provides communication between the spherical inner container and the chamber of stub 40. This ball 84 is of slightly smaller diameter than the diameter of the chamber 78 that houses spring 82 so that that chamber may be moved down relative to the valve ball against the biasing force of spring 82.

The cylindrical skirt 86 that defines the lower end of chamber 78 encircles the valve ball 84. Lateral movement of that skirt, produced by angular tilting of the discharge nozzle structure and its associated snugly fitting internal valve member 70, causes lateral displacement of the valve ball 84, thereby opening the passageway leading from the inner container into the discharge stud chamber. The skirt 86 thus serves to couple valve element 76 with valve element 84 for concurrent, or substantially concurrent, operation. When the angular displacement force on the discharge nozzle is released, the resiliency of the nozzle structure in conjunction with the compressed valve spring 82 urge the valve ball 84 to a concentric location on conical seat 48 thereby closing passageway 32 and preventing further flow of material therethrough. The dimensions, clearances, and degree of resiliency of the valve member 70 and the nozzle structure 14 may be selected to control the relation of the actuation of the two valve elements 76 and 84 both in opening and closing.

In an assembly operation the upstanding discharge nozzle 14 is first seated against the preformed head of the can top 12. The valving element 70 is then positioned with the cylindrical stud portion 72 disposed within the nozzle chamber and the valve head 76 located in the valve seat 58 of the discharge nozzle flange. Spring 82 and ball 84 are disposed as indicated relative to valve member 70. The stub 40, carrying the inner container 22 with ingredient material therein, is then seated'against flange 56 of the nozzle portion in a valve assembly operation so that the ball 84 is seated on the valve seat 48 and then the can top 12 is formed in a crimping operation below the wall portion 44 of the support stub to secure the valve assembly together. The second ingredient material is placed in the outer container and the can top 12 which carries the valve assembly and inner container is then secured to the body 10 of the outer container by spinning the edge of the can top 12 over the top edge of the body 10 so that a sealed container capable of storing material to be dispensed and a suitable propellant under pressure is provided.

A pressure generating propellant such as a halogenated alkane sold under the trade name Freon, a hydrocarbon propellant such as butane, or nitrogen may be introduced into the outer container in liquid phase before the container is scaled or it may be introduced in gaseous phase through the valve assembly with a coupling element 88 as shown in FIG. 7. The coupling element fits tightly over the nozzle 14 and may include a finger portion which acts against stud portion 72 to drive the valving member down against the biasing force of spring 82. This action opens the upper valve element 76 but maintains the lower valve element 84 seated in sealing relation. (In some cases the propellant pressure alone is sufficient to open the upper valve element 76.) Thus the propellant flows through the helical passageway and stud chamber into the outer container without entering the inner container.

The dispensing device operates in the following manher. A solution of one ingredient or reactant is in the outer container together with the propellant. A second ingredient or reactant in liquid or in gaseous form is in the inner container in isolation from the first ingredient. The pressure applied by the propellant in the outer container is applied through the flexible wall 30 of the inner container to the ingredient stored therein. To dispense a mixture of the two ingredients, the can is first inverted or tipped so that its discharge nozzle points downwardly. In this position the ingredient in the outer container runs through the lateral passageway 42 into the chamber in stub 40 and substantially fills that chamber. A lateral or tilting force is then applied manually to the discharge nozzle 14 as indicated in FIG. 8, displacing it angularly and pivoting its associated snugly fitted inner valving member 70 with an edge of the valve head 76 acting as a fulcrum. This angular displacing of the valve member 70 withdraws the diametrically opposite portion of the valve bead from its juxtaposed resilient valve seat-58 thereby opening the orifice between the stub chamber and the helical passageway formed by the flange 54 and the stud portion 72 of the valve member so that material will flow along the path indicated generally by the arrows.

This same angular displacement of the valve member 70 also swings the coupling skirt 86. moving the valve ball 84 laterally along conical seat 48 and opening the passageway 32 to rclease the second ingredient from the inner container. The first and second ingredients are forced out through the elongated passageway formed by the helical flange 54 and the cylindrical stud portion 72 of the valve member 70. The elongated passageway provides time for mixing of the ingredients and a chemical reaction, if necessary, to occur before discharge of the mixture from the nozzle.

In the condition of the dispensing device shown in FIG. 8, substantially all of the contents of the inner container have been discharged therefrom and in that position the flexible wall portion of that container contacts substantially the entire inner surface of the rigid wall portion and is urged against the ribs 34 by the pressure of the propellant in the outer container. These ribs, however. prevent complete blocking of channels 36 and orifice 32 so that any residue of the second ingredient may flow from the chamber, thus insuring complete use of that material. The containers and valve assembly may also be dimensioned to provide a surplus of the ingredient in the outer container over that in the inner container. Such a relation is desirable when the material to be dispensed is. for example, a two-part self-heating cosmetic composition or the like to be applied to the human skin, one part of which contains a reducing agent and the other of which contains an oxidizing agent reactive with the reducing agent to liberate heat. In such case, the part containing the oxidizing agent is placed in the inner container, thus avoiding the possibility that the unreacted oxidizing agent might be discharged on the skin.

On release of the nozzle 14, the spring 82, aided by the resiliency of the nozzle structure 14, acts to force the valve ball 84 back along the conical seat 48 in a reseating operation and also to return the valve bead 76 into complete annular seating against the valve seat 58 so that the valve assembly recovers to its original axially aligned po- .sition and both valve elements are firmly seated under the infltlence of the valve spring 82 and the internal pressure of the propellant, thereby terminating discharge of the ingredients from either the inner or the outer containers.

As indicated above. the valve assembly permits charging of the outer container with a propellant through operation of one valve only. As shown in FIG. 2, the stud portion 72 terminates well within the nozzle 14 so that operation of the valve assembly in this manner is diflicult without specialized equipment. However, should it be desirable to open only the common orifice when the dispensing device is used after charged with propellant, the stud portion 72 may be made longer so that it protrudes slightly from the nozzle. This modified valve structure would permit any mixture of the materials remaining in the stub chamber to be ejected and also would permit dispensing of the material in the outer container without any mixing of that material with the contents of the inner container.

Several structural modifications of the valve apparatus and dispensing device are shown in FIGS. 9-16. In FIG. 9a there is shown a modified form of the upper valve sealing surfaces of the valve shown in FIG. 2. In this modification the discharge nozzle 14' carries a valve bead 90 which defines the pivot fulcrum of the valve member 70 in a tilting action, while the valve member has a channel 91 in which that valve head is seated. Also the nozzle structure has a depending flange 92 which fits over the upper outer edge 93 of the discharge stub as indicated to provide a locking seal between those two elements.

In FIG. 9b another modified valve arrangement is shown. Gasket 94 of greater resilience than nozzle 14" is secured between the nozzle and the upper surface of stub 40". A ridge 95 in the upper surface deforms the gasket 94 and forces the peripheral gasket material to bulge out at 96 and form an excellent seal with the can top 12". Lip 97 of the nozzle 14" functions as a tilt control fulcrum surface, as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-8, and positions the valve member in similar manner to tabs 162 (FIG. 13) and cooperating chamber walls which also function as fulcrum surfaces.

The valve assembly shown in FIGS. 10 and 11 employs a combined nozzle and valve member unit 100 mounted on the top of a can 102. A stub 104 supports a similar type of inner container 106 which has an orifice 108 that provides a material transfer path to and from the inner container. Seated on the inside bottom surface of the support stub is a resilient valve seat 110 and immediately above that seat is a valve'element 112. This valve element has a circular base flange 113 and a spherical actuating portion 114 on the top thereof which is receivcd into finger portion 116 of the combined valvenozzle unit 100 in ball and socket relation. The valvenozzle unit has a valve bead 118 which is biased upwardly into seating relation with a resilient valve seat 120 (secured against the inner top surface of the can 102 by the upper edge of the support stub). The two valve elements 112 and 118 are forced apart and against the opposed, aligned valve seats 110, 120 by compression spring 122 which is positioned between the lower valve member 112 and flange 123 of the valve-nozzle unit 100. An outlet orificc 124 is provided at the base of the nozzle portion of the unit 100 below the level of the upper valve seat 120. When the valve-nozzle unit 100 is tilted, as shown in FIG. 11, the unit is rocked about a pivot defined by bead 118. The coupling socket fingers 116 carry the ball portion 114 of the lower valve member 112 and similarly tilt that member to substantially simultaneously open the lower valve, thus permitting material from the inner container to flow out through orifice 124 into the passageway of nozzle unit 100.

Another modification is shown in FIG. 12 in which there is provided an insert positioned between the discharge stub 40 and the valve member 70'. The floor of the stub chamber has a plurality of radially extending grooves and an impervious flexible diaphragm 132 is secured between the lower edge of the insert and the stub chamber floor. A ball 84, carried by the valve unit, is biased down against the flexible diaphragm 132 forcing its undersurface into scaling engagement with the valve seat 48' to control material transfer from the inner container. The cylindrical wall of insert 130 has a plurality of perforations 134 and its upper edge is positioned in sealing relation against a gasket 136 secured between the inside surface of can top 12' and the top surface of the stub 40'. The valve member 70 includes a flange that carries a valve bead which is biased upward into engagement with the gasket 136 by spring 82'. The upper portion of member 70 is a cylindrical stud 138 which has a plurality of longitudinally extending grooves 140 disposed about its periphery. These grooves cooperate with the surrounding nozzle 142 carried by the stud 138 to provide parallel paths for flow of a mixture of the ingredients from both containers when the nozzle member is displaced with lateral force. The nozzle member 142 fits over the stud 138 and is disposed in frictional sealing engagement with the gasket 136. It will be noted that this construction permits the nozzle member to be removed if desired without affecting the valve seals.

Still another modification is shown in FIG. 13 in which the valve ball 84 is biased down against a flexible gasket member which seals the inner container orifice 152. A second resilient member 154 is interposed between the flanges of the nozzle unit 156 and the support stub 158 and the head of valve member 160 is seated against this member. Peripheral tabs 16?. on the valve flange assist in positioning the valve assembly within the support stub and also limit the permitted lateral movement of the valve when the nozzle structure is tilted.

In still another arrangement the valve assembly as shown in FIGS. 14 and l5 includes a stud portion 72' that is slotted to form two parallel upstanding sections 170, each of which carry an outwardly protruding car 172. The nozzle structure 14' has a seat 176 which the ears engage to secure the nozzle structure on the valve assembly when the nozzle 14 is slid axially down the valve stud. The nozzle structure may be removed if desired by inserting a suitable instrument to force the two portions 170 toward one another so that the tabs 172 are moved inwardly and off of the seat 176. Immediately inside the cylindrical bead 180 of the valve element is a depressed annular channel 182 through which the released material flows for movement up through the vertical slot 184 when the valve assembly is actuated.

Another dispenser configuration is shown in FIG. 16 in which the lower valve member includes a hemispherical surface 190 or other smoothly curved surface at the base of its body 192 which may be cylindrical and which engages in sealing relation valve seat surface 48; and a pin 194 which may be frictionally secured inside spring 82. Body portion 192 disposed at least in part inside the skirt 86' of coupling element 78 produces positive valve actuation in response ot tilting movement. This valve element is cheaper to manufacture than the ball 84 as only the valving surface 190 need be carefully finished. As it is secured in coupling element 78. alignment and incorporation of this component in the complete valve assembly is facilitated. As indicated in that figure, the inner container 22' rather than being generally spherical has two generally hemispherical end portions, a flexible portion 196 and a corresponding rigid portion 198. These are connected by cylindrical sections, a flexilbe section 200 and a corresponding rigid section 202. The entire rigid and flexible portions are similar in configuration, however. so that the pressure of the propellant from the outer container may urge the flexible portion up against the rigid portion in mating relation as indicated above with the resulting discharge of all the material in the inner container from the dispensing device. Also, in any of these dispensing devices a dip tube 204 may be employed so that the dispensing device may be operated in vertical position.

Still another dispenser configuration is shown in FIGS. 17-21. The dispensing device shown in those figures includes a rigid cylindrical body 210 having a domed bottom wall and a top portion 212 secured to the cylindrical body in similar manner to the arrangement shown in FIG. l. A discharge nozzle and valve assembly 214 is secured to the top portion 212.

This nozzle and valve assembly is similar to that shown in the other embodiments and includes an elongated, relatively flexible discharge nozzle 216, the interior surface of which forms a helical flange 218 which cooperates with the relatively rigid valve operator stud 220 to provide an elongated helical reacting passageway extending around stud 220 from which the reacted mixture of ingredients from the device is discharged. It will be noted that the nozzle structure in this embodiment includes an annular lip portion 222 which engages the inwardly turned securing flange 224 of the top portion 212 and thus limits the downward flexing of the nozzle flange 226 and particularly the inner edge thereof when transverse force is applied to the nozzle.

In similar manner to the embodiments above described, hollow cylindrical stub 230 is secured to the container top portion 212. The upper surface of the stub is formed as an annular ridge 232 which mates in distorting and sealing engagement with resilient valve seat 234 which may be a synthetic rubber, such as Bunn- N (a butadieneacrylonitrile copolymer). The flange 226 of the nozzle structure, positioned above valve seat 234. provides a backing member towards which ridge 232 acts to secure the resilient valve seat in sealed position. Unvalvcd passageway 236 adjacent the base of the stub provides direct communication between the outer container and the mixing chamber 238 inside the stub. The

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annular channel 239, depressed below passageway 236, functions to impede movement of ingredients of the inner container to the outer container. The base of the stub 230 has a plurality of radially extending ribs 240 formed therein similar to the structure shown in FIG. 4. Passageway 242 provides communication between inner container 244 and the mixing chamber 238. A valve seat 246, concentric with passageway 242, is formed in the inner surface of chamber 238, and outwardly thereof is a valve operation control ridge 248.

Integral with the operator stud 220 is formed a valve member which includes an annular, radially-extending, upwardly-facing surface 250 that normally engages valve seat 234 in sealing relation. A plurality of ribs 252, formed above valve surface 250, engage the reacting passageway surfaces 254 immediately above valve seat 234 when transverse force is applied to nozzle 214 and, hence, limit the lateral movement of the operator element within the stub chamber. The peripheral length of these ribs is suflicient to minimize deflection of the relatively soft wall surfaces 254. In the lower portion of this member is formed a downwardly opening bore 256 which receives stainless steel spring 258 and valve element 260. Spring securing prongs 262 extend downwardly into bore 256 and valve element 260 includes corresponding prong portions 264 which are received within spring 258 in similar manner to the cylindrical stub portion of the embodiment shown FIG. 16. The lower end of valve element 260 has a hemispherical valve seat engaging surface 266; and disposed around that surface are a plu rality of axially extending ribs 268 which guide the movement of valve element 260 in an axial direction in bore 256. This valve element is manufactured from a hard material. such as glass, as in the case of ball 84, and in this configuration a suitable material is the polycarbonate plastic sold under the trademark Lexan.

A radially extending, annular flange 290 extends outwardly from the base of the stub chamber and inner container 244 is secured to this flange. This inner container has two flexible wall portions 292, 294 of the same dimensions. In the illustrated embodiment each wall portion is of laminated construction and includes a thin barrier sheet 296 of aluminum and a heat scalable plastic material 298, such as polyethylene, secured on either side thereof. This laminated construction provides an inexpensive flexible container construction which is impervious to both the propellant and the ingredient stored within the inner container. Other flexible wall materials that have similar barrier characteristics include plastics sold under the trademarks Kel-F Elastomer and Teflon. and such materials do not require the use of a laminated construction.

Wall 294 has an aperture 300 through which the stub is inserted and then the periphery of the aperture is heat sealed to flange 290 to provide an impervious seal. The peripheries of the two wall portions 292, 294 are then sealed together at 302 (FIG. 20) to likewise provide an impervious seal at that area. (It will be noted that it is not necessary, as far as the sealing of the container is concerned, to provide a layer of scalable material over the entire inner surface of the aluminum film.) The sealed bladder (inner container) and stub chamber attached thereto are then assembled with the other device components in the manner described above.

In operation the mixing chamber 238 is filled with the ingredient in the outer container 210 being in direct communication therewith through passageway 236. When transverse force is applied to nozzle 214, valve element is moved laterally on seat 246 and that valve is opened slightly. N0 flow occurs due to pressure equilibrium between mixing chamber 238 and inner container 244. The main valve (surface 250 and seat 234) does not open until valve element 260 is driven up on top of ridge 248, which requires axial movement of element 260 into bore 256 against the force of spring 258 (similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 14). A substantial transverse force must be applied to the nozzle 214; and, as applied by hand, when valve element 260 is driven on top of ridge 248, this force continues to move the valve unit to full open position of the main valve. The sizes of passageways 236 and 242 are related to each other to provide the desired proportion of ingredients under those flow conditions. These ingredients are mixed in chamber 238 and then flow past valve seat 234 into the helical reacting passageway for discharge in completely reacted condition from the nozzle structure 214. Upon release of the nozzle, both valves close at substantially the same time as urged by the spring 258 and the resiliency of the flexible nozzle unit 214. It will be apparent that this valve unit operates in the axial mode in substantially the same manner as the other embodiments.

Thus it will be seen that the invention provides new and improved dispensing devices from which a mixture of materials may be dispensed in coordinated manner. As indicated above, passageway diameters may be correlated to provide the desired ingredient ratio in the mixture and the valve element design may be modified to vary the opening and closing relationships of the two valves. The valve structure permits selective opening of one or both containers and is particularly useful in enabling the charging of one container with propellant without contamination of the ingredient in the other container. In addition, the devices incorporate various forms of inner container which include a flexible wall portion and a correspondingly formed wall portion of similar dimensions so that the flexible portion may be forced by propellant pressure into substantial mating relation against the corresponding portion to eject all the material from the other container. Design features of the disclosed embodiments enable economical mass production of an efiicient, accurate and reliable mixing device of the pressurized type. While several embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, further modifications thereof will be obvious to those skilled in the art and therefore it is not intended that the invention be limited to the disclosed embodiments or to details thereof and departures may be made therefrom within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims. A

I claim:

1. A device for dispensing material under pressure comprising in combination first and second containers,

each said container having an orifice,

a common discharge passageway for said first and second containers,

a first valve controlling the flow of material between said container orifices and said common discharge passageway,

a second valve controlling the flow of material through the orifice of said second container,

coupling means connecting said first and second valves for concurrent operation thereof,

and operator means having two modes of movement, a first mode of movement operating said first valve only to permit material flow between said discharge passageway and said first container, and a second mode of movement in a different direction from the direction of movement of said operator means in said first mode of movement acting through said coupling means to operate both of said valves to permit material flow between said discharge passageway and both of said containers.

2. An aerosol device for dispensing a mixture of two materials under pressure comprising a first container adapted to hold a first material,

a second container disposed within said first container adapted to hold a second material,

a common discharge passageway for said containers,

an orifice associated with said discharge passageway and an orifice associated with one of said containers,

Cal

said orifices being disposed in fixed aligned relation,

a valve seat surrounding each orifice with the valve seat of said first container facing the valve seat of said second container,

a valve assembly disposed between said orifices,

said valve assembly including a valve element cooperating with each orifice adapted to be seated on the associated valve seat in sealing relation,

biasing means disposed between said valve elements acting to urge said valve elements apart and into seating relation on their cooperating valve seats,

means coupling said valve elements together,

and an operator element secured to said valve elements having two modes of movement,

a first mode of movement which acts directly against the force exerted by said biasing means to move said first and second valve elements toward one another and open one of said orifices, and a second mode of movement acting through said coupling means to move both said valve elements to open both orifices to permit passage of material through said discharge passageway from both containers simultaneously.

3. A device for dispensing material under pressure comprising in combination first and second containers,

each container having an orifice,

a first material and a propellant in said first container and a second material in said second container,

a relatively flexible discharge nozzle structure defining a common discharge passageway for said first and second containers,

and a valve structure including an elongated operator portion disposed within said nozzle structure,

a first valve controlling the flow of material between said container orifices and said common discharge passageway,

a second valve controlling the flow of material through the orifice of said second container,

and coupling means connecting said first and second valves for concurrent operation thereof,

so that movement of said nozzle structure is commuieated to said valve structureby said elongated operator portion to actuate said first and second valves to permit How of said materials from said first and second containers and through said discharge passageway under pressure from said propellant for dispensing of a mixture of said first and second materials in one mode of operation, and movement of said operator portion in a second mode of operation in a different direction from the direction of movement of said nozzle structure in said one mode of operation permits flow between said discharge passageway and said first container only.

4. The device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said nozzle structure includes an inwardly extending flange portion and said valve operator portion is a relatively rigid member disposed within said nozzle structure in abutment with said flange portion so that a chamber of fixed dimension is defined between the inner wall of said nozzle structure and said relatively rigid valve operator portion.

5. The device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said second container has a rigid wall portion and a flexible wall portion and said propellant in said first container acts through said flexible wall portion on material in said second container to force material from said second container into said discharge passageway.

6. The device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said first and second valve members are disposed in alignment with one another,

and said valve structure further includes resilient biasing means acting to bias said first and second valve members away front one another to close said first and second orifices.

7. The device as claimed in claim 6 wherein said operator portion is axially movable within said nozzle structure and the axial movement of said operator portion actuates only said first valve member to permit flow of material between said discharge passageway and said first container.

8. An aerosol device for dispensing a mixture of two materials under pressure comprising in combination a nozzle structure defining a discharge passageway,

a first container adapted to hold a first material and a propellant,

a second container adapted to hold a second material,

said second container having a flexible wall portion against which said propellant acts,

a first passageway providing communication between the interior of said first container and said discharge passageway,

a second passageway providing communication between the interior of said second container and said discharge passageway,

and a valve structure including a first valve portion for controlling flow of material between said first container to said discharge passageway, a second valve portion axially aligned with said first valve portion for controlling flow of material from said second container to said discharge passageway, and resilient means acting to urge said said first and second valve portions apart into sealing relation with their respective containers,

said valve structure being axially movable to operate said first valve portion to permit flow between said discharge passageway and said first container,

and said nozzle structure and said valve structure cooperating so that movement of said nozzle structure is imparted to said valve structure to operate said first and second valve members open the passageways from said first and second containers and permit simultaneous flow of the two materials through said discharge passageway under the influence of said propellant.

9. A device for dispensing material under pressure comprising in combination a first container,

a second container disposed within said first container in spaced relation thereto and having a flexible wall portion,

a support structure integral with and projecting outwardly from the rigid portion of said second container and defining a hollow chamber,

said support structure being secured to said first container,

a first passageway in said support structure providing communication between the interior of said first container and said chamber, second passageway in the lower portion of said chamber providing communication between the interior of said second container and said chamber,

a discharge nozzle defining a longitudinally extending exit passageway secured on the upper surface of said support structure,

a valve seat inside said chamber adjacent the upper portion thereof,

a valve structure including a radially extending annular valve member adapted to bear against and form continuous annular contact with said valve seat to close said exit passageway,

and a coupling portion,

a valve element located concentrically with said annular valve member,

and resilient means acting against said valve structure and said valve element for urging said valve member into seating relation on said valve seat to close said exit passageway and said valve element into seating relation on the lower portion of said chamber to .close said second passageway,

said valve structure and said discharge nozzle cooperating so that the lateral movement of said discharge nozzle moves said valve member and said valve element through said coupling portion to permit simultaneous discharge of materials from both containers through said discharge nozzle.

10. The device as claimed in claim 9 and further including fulcrum means in said chamber for controlling the movement of said valve structure in response to said lateral movement of said discharge nozzle.

ill. The device as claimed in claim 9 wherein said valve structure is formed of a relatively rigid material and includes a stud portion disposed within said exit passageway,

and wherein said discharge nozzle is formed of a relatively flexible material and includes a hinge portion connecting said valve seat with said exit passageway portion permitting flexing of said exit passageway portion relative to said valve seat.

12. The device as claimed in claim 9 wherein said valve element includes a smooth valving surface adapted to be seated on said lower chamber surface,

and said resilient means in a compression spring operativcly coupled to said valve member and to said valve element,

I said compression spring tending to urge said valve element into sealing relation with a valve seat formed in the lower surface of said chamber and said annular valve bead into sealing relation with the valve seat adjacent said discharge nozzle.

13. The device as claimed in claim 9 wherein said valve element includes a smooth valving surface adapted to be seated on a surface in the lower portion of said chamber, and a coupling element, and

materials under pressure comprising a first container having a rigid wall adapted to hold a first material,

a second container disposed within said first container adapted to hold a second material,

at least a portion of the wall of said second container being relatively flexible.

a common discharge passageway,

an orifice associated with each container,

said orifices being disposed in fixed aligned relation,

a valve seat surrounding each orifice with the valve seat of said first container facing the valve seat of said second container,

a valve assembly-disposed between said orifices,

said valve assembly including a valve element cooperating with each orifice adapted to be seated on the associated valve seat in sealing relation to prevent flow between its associated container and said common discharge passageway,

biasing means disposed between said valve elements acting to urge said valve elements apart and into seating relation on their cooperating valve seats,

means coupling said valve elements together,

and an operator element secured to said valve elements having two modes of movement,

a first mode of movement which acts directly against the force exerted by'said biasing means to move said first and second valve elements toward one another and open one of said orifices to permit fiow between said one orifice and said common discharge passageand a second mode of movement acting through said coupling means to move both said valve elements to open the orifices from said first and second containers to permit passage of material therethrough for flow through said common discharge passageway in a mixing operation.

15. The aerosol device as claimed in claim 14 wherein said operator element is disposed within said common discharge passageway,

the interior of said common discharge passageway and the exterior of said operator element being dimensioned to provide a channel for flow of materials from said first and second containers therethrough in a mixing operation.

16. The device as claimed in claim 14 wherein one of said valve elements is fixedly secured to said operator element and to said coupling means and wherein the other of said valve elements is positioned in sliding relation relative to said coupling means.

17. An aerosol device for selectively dispensing a mlxture of two materials under pressure comprising in combination a first container adapted to hold a first material and a propellant,

a second container disposed within said first container and adapted to hold a second material,

said second container including a first portion and a flexible second portion arranged so that said flexible portion is urged into mating engagement with substantailly the entire inner surface of said first portion by propellant material in said first container when said second container is empty,

means supporting said second container within said first container and defining a common chamber,

a first passageway providing communication between the interior of said first container and said common chamber,

a second passageway providing communication between the interior of said second container and said common chamber,

a relatively flexible discharge noule structure defining an exit passageway,

said nozzle structure being disposed in communication with said common chamber,

and a valve assembly including a relatively rigid portion disposed within said nozzle structure and said common chamber,

said valve assembly including a first valve element for controlling flow of material through said exit passageway,

a second valve element for controlling flow of material through said second passageway,

biasing means acting to urge said valve elements into sealing relationship,

coupling means connecting said first and second valve elements together for coordinated operation,

and an operator element disposed within said nozzle structure so that axial movement of said operator element moves said first valve element to permit flow of material between said exit passageway and said first container,

and lateral movement of said operator element produces movement of both of said valve elements for dispensing of material from both of said containers through said c'xit passageway.

18. An aerosol device for dispensing a mixture of two materials under pressure comprising a first container adapted to hold a first material,

a second container adapted to hold a second material,

said first container having a relatively rigid wall and the wall of said second container including a relatively rigid portion and a relatively flexible portion,

said flexible and rigid portions being movable relative to one another and said portions being of similar configuration so that their inner surfaces may be positioned in mating relation under pressure exerted externally of said second container, means defining a mixing chamber, first passageway means providing communication between the interior of said first container and said mixing chamber, and second passageway means providing communication between the intcrior of said second container and said mixing chamher,

a discharge nozzle structure defining an exit passageway,

said nozzle structure being disposed so that exit passageway is in communication with said mixing chamber first valve means for controlling flow of material through said exit passageway,

second valve means for controlling flow of material through one of said passageway means,

and means for actuating said first and second valve means so that both valve means are open at the same time.

19. The aerosol device as claimed in claim 18 and further including a channel formed in the inner surface of said second container adjacent the outlet orifice to provide a material passage to said orifice when said inner surfaces of said relatively flexible and relatively rigid portions are in mating relation.

20. An aerosol device for selectively dispensing two materials under pressure comprising a first container adapted to hold a first material and a propellant,

a second container disposed within said first container adapted to hold a second material,

each container having an orifice,

said first container having a relatively rigid wall and the wall of said second container including a relatively rigid portion and a relatively flexible portion,

said flexible and rigid portions being movable relative to one another and said portions including sections of equal dimension so that the inner surfaces of said sections may be positioned in mating contact under pressure exerted externally of said second container,

discharge passageway means, means defining a mixing chamber interposed between said discharge passageway means and the orifices of said first and second containers for mixing materials dispensed from said first and second containers prior to entry of said materials into said discharge passageway means,

and valve means for controlling communcation between said orifices and said discharge passageway means.

21. The aerosol device as claimed in claim 20 wherein said rigid and flexible portions include hemispherical sections of equal dimension.

22. The aerosol device as claimed in claim 21 and further including a channel formed in the inner surface of said second container adjacent its orifice to provide a material passage to said orifice when said inner surface of said relatively flexible and relatively rigid portions are in mating relation.

23. A valve assembly for controlling the selective dispensing of material from first and second containers,

each said container having an outlet orifice,

comprising two valve elements,

the first valve element being disposed adjacent the orifice of said first container and the second valve element disposed adjacent the orifice of the second container,

biasing means acting to urge said valve elements apart and into sealing relation relative to the associated orifices of said first and second containers,

means coupling said valve elements together and an operator element for manipulating said valve elements,

said operator element having a first mode of movement acting directly against the force applied by said common biasing means to move one of said valve elements to open the orifice controlled by it while maintainmg the other valve element in scaling relation relative to its controlled orifice,

and a second mode of operation acting through said coupling means to move both of said valve elements to permit simultaneous passage of material through both orifices,

It. The valve assembly as claimed in claim 23 wherein said coupling means is an elongated element,

a portion of said second valve element is disposed adjacent said elongated element for controlled movement so that said second valve element remains positioned in sealing relation relative to its controlled orifice in response to axial movement of said elongated element but is moved in response to lateral movement of said elongated element,

and said first valve element, said elongated element and said operator element are fixedly secured together as a unit.

25. The valve assembly as claimed in claim 24 wherein said biasing means is disposed coaxially with said elongated coupling element.

26. The valve assembly as claimed in claim 23 wherein said operator element is a relatively rigid elongated member and further including a nozzle structure having a portion surrounding said elongated operator element so that a material fiow passageway is defined between said operator element and said nozzle structure.

27. The valve assembly as claimed in claim 23 wherein said first container has an annular seating surface surrounding its orifice and said first valve element includes an annular element which is positioned in sealing engagement with said seating surface by said biasing means.

28. The valve assembly as claimed in claim 23 wherein said second container has a conical valve seat surrounding its orifice and said second valve element has a spherical surface which is positioned in sealing engagement with said valve seat by said biasing means.

29. The valve assembly as claimed in claim 23 and further including fulcrum means cooperating with said first valve element for controlling its position in said second mode of operation.

30. The valve assembly as claimed in claim 23 wherein said second valve element includes a coupling element,

and said biasing means is a compression spring frictionally secured to said coupling means and said coupling element.

31. A dispensing control assembly for controlling the selective dispensing of material under pressure from first and second containers,

each said container having an outlet orifice,

comprising a common nozzle structure,

two valve elements,

the first valve element being disposed adjacent the orifice of said first container and the second valve element being movable towards and away from said first valve element and disposed adjacent the orifice of the second container,

common biasing means acting to urge said valve elements apart and into sealing relation relative to the associated orifices of said first and second containers,

means coupling said valve elements together positioned coaxially with said common biasing means,

and an operator element disposed within said nozzle structure and fixedly secured to said first valve element for manipulating said valve elements,

said operator element having an axial mode of movement within said nozzle structure directly against the force applied by said common biasing means to move said first valve element toward said second valve element to open the orifice of said first container while maintaining the second valve element in sealing relation relative to the orifice of said second container,

and a tilting mode of operation acting through said coupling means to move both of said valve elements to permit simultaneous passage of material through both orifices.

32. A- device for dispensing material under pressure comprising in combination first and second containers,

means defining a mixing chamber,

a first passageway in said chamber defining means providing communication between the interior of said first container and said chamber,

a second passageway in said chamber defining means providing communication between the interior of said second container and said chamber,

means defining a discharge passageway in communication with said chamber,

a first valve structure movable between a first position closing said discharge passageway, and a second position in which said discharge passageway is open,

a second valve structure movable between a first position closing said first passageway and a second position in which said first passageway is open,

and operator means for controlling the movements of said first and second valve structures between their respective first and second positions.

33. The dispensing device as claimed in claim 32 and further including means to initially impede and then free the movement of said first valve structure in response to manual force applied to said operator element to effect the rapid movement of said first valve structure from said first position to said second position.

34. A device for dispensing a mixture of ingredients under pressure comprising in combination a first container having a first ingredient and a propellant therein,

a second container having a second ingredient therein, said second container being disposed within said first container in spaced relation thereto and having a flexible wall portion,

means defining a mixing chamber of smaller volume than either container,

at first passageway in said chamber defining means providing communication between the interior of said first container and said chamber,

a second passageway in said chamber defining means providing communication between the interior of said second container and said chamber,

discharge means defining an elongated reacting passageway in communication with said chamber,

a first valve structure movable between a first position closing said reacting passageway and a second posi tion in which said reacting passageway is open,

a second valve structure movable between a first position closing said second passageway and a second position in which said second passageway is open, permitting flow of the mixture of ingredients from said mixing chamber through said reacting passage way for discharge,

and operator means for controlling the position of said first and second valve structures.

35. The discharge device as claimed in claim 34 wherein said first and second v alve structures are positioned within said mixing chamber.

36. The discharge device as claimed in claim 35 wherein each valve structure includes a valve seat forming a portion of the interior wall of said mixing chamber and a valve element, and further including a resilient member disposed between said valve elements and forcing said valve elements into sealing engagement with said valve seats.

37. The device as claimed in claim 36 wherein the valve element of said first valve structure includes an annular surface, the valve seat of said first valve structure is a resilient member, the valve element of said second valve structure includes a spherical valving surface, and said resilient means is a compression spring operatively coupled between said valve elements.

38. The discharge device as claimed in claim 37 wherein the valve element of said second valve structure is a ball.

39. The discharge device as claimed in claim 34 wherein said operator means is located within said reacting passageway and has two modes of operation, an axial mode verse mode for opening said first and second valve strucverse mode for opening said first and second valve struc tures in a coordinated operation.

40. The device as claimed in claim 39 and further including fulcrum means for controlling the movement of said first valve structure in response to transverse movement of said operator means.

41. The dispensing device as claimed in claim 39 and further including means to initially impede and then free the pivoting movement of said first valve structure in response to transverse force applied to said operator element to effect the rapid movement of said first valve structure from said first position to said second position.

42. The dispensing device as claimed in claim 41 wherein said initially impeding means is an annular ridge coopcrating with said second valve structure.

References Cited by the Examiner FOREIGN PATENTS 5/1962 France. 3/1932 Great Britain.

LOUIS J. DEMBO, Primary Examiner. 

1. A DEVICE FOR DISPENSING MATERIAL UNDER PRESSURE COMPRISING IN COMBINATION FIRST AND SECOND CONTAINERS, EACH SAID CONTAINER HAVING AN ORIFICE, A COMMON DISCHARGE PASSAGEWAY FOR SAID FIRST AND SECOND CONTAINERS, A FIRST VALVE CONTROLLING THE FLOW OF MATERIAL BETWEEN SAID CONTAINER ORIFICES AND SAID COMMON DISCHARGE PASSAGEWAY A SECOND VALVE CONTROLLING THE FLOW OF MATERIAL THROUGH THE ORIFICE OF SAID SECOND CONTAINER COUPLING MEANS CONNECTING SAID FIRST AND SECOND VALVES FOR CONCURRENT OPERATION THEREOF, AND OPERATOR MEANS HAVING TWO MODES OF MOVEMENT, A FIRST MODE OF MOVEMENT OPERATING SAID FIRST VALVE ONLY TO PERMIT MATERIAL FLOW BETWEEN SAID DISCHARGE PASSAGEWAY AND SAID FIRST CONTAINER, AND A SECOND MODE OF MOVEMENT IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION FROM THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF SAID OPERATOR MEANS IN SAID FIRST MODE OF MOVEMENT ACTING THROUGH SAID COUPLING MEANS TO OPERATE BOTH OF SAID VALVES TO PERMIT MATERIAL FLOW BETWEEN SAID DISCHARGE PASSAGEWAY AND BOTH OF SAID CONTAINERS. 